Work

A Scheduling Optimization Approach to Reduce Outpatient Waiting Times for Specialists

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Long waiting times for outpatient care remain a global challenge for public health systems. In Portugal, the National Health Service (NHS) ensures universal access to medical treatment, aiming to promote equity in healthcare. However, persistent delays in outpatient speciality appointments hinder this objective. METHODS: This study proposes a prioritization-scheduling approach that integrates a mathematical model with a heuristic method to enhance accessibility in NHS hospitals. By optimizing the available capacity of hospitals within each geographic area, the model efficiently sequences patient appointments across different facilities, prioritizing those who have waited the longest. The approach was tested using simulated instances based on real NHS hospital data. RESULTS: Results indicate that the model effectively integrates hospital resources within a region and efficiently allocates specialist appointments, significantly reducing waiting times. CONCLUSIONS: This research introduces a promising strategy that, when incorporated into a decision support system, can serve as a valuable tool for healthcare management.

Source: Healthcare

DOI: 10.3390/healthcare13070749

Authors: Ana Moura, Micaela Pinho

Institutions: University of Aveiro, Universidade Portucalense, REMIT – Research on Economics, Management and Information Technologies

Language: English

Topic: Healthcare Operations and Scheduling Optimization

Subfield: Emergency Medical Services

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,258